The brief from the clients a couple who work in the construction and building materials industries was to design a home they could craft and make their own, and in which would have a connection out to the landscape.When they purchased the plot of land in 2009, there was already a ruined byre standing on the site. Loader Monteith chose to integrate stone from this byre into the design. This has not only reduced the carbon impact of the project and helped its material circularity but has also meant elements of the local vernacular architecture were incorporated into the house.The house is laid out in an L-shape plan, which is arranged in order to capture views for the main living spaces while preserving privacy from the entrance side for spaces like bedrooms.AdvertisementThe walls of one of the two new volumes uses the reclaimed Scottish Carmyllie stone from the byre, while the durable sinusoidal coloured-metal roofs are inspired by those of local agricultural buildings. Inside, a living room, kitchen and dining area, three bedrooms and two bathrooms are accommodated and the interiors feature floated polished concrete floors and floor-to-ceiling windows.Operational costs are kept low through double-glazing, high levels of insulation and airtightness, mechanical ventilation with heat recovery and an air source heat pump.One of the client couple, a skilled joiner, took on the roles of self-builder, project manager and carpenter in the aftermath of the pandemic.Architects viewThis project was particularly special as it was the first to come into our office after lockdown began. Our clients, Angie and Colin, approached us after seeing our project Strone of Glenbanchor and we were immediately drawn to their vision. Discovering the stone byre during our site visit sparked our interest even further.The house is designed to embrace stunning, unobstructed vistas from home, ensuring the connection between interior spaces and exterior farmland.Matt Loader, founding director, Loader MonteithOur clients were at the heart of this project, bringing their creativity and dedication to every stage of the process. Colins precision and attention to detail in execution were instrumental in bringing the design to life exactly as envisioned.Jamie Mack, architect, Loader MonteithClients' viewWe were inspired by the old bothies we encountered on our walks around the Highlands, particularly their homely feel and connection to the landscape. It was important to us that our new home captured that same sense of history and belonging.Angie LeslieEach stage was carefully considered and planned. I thrived during the creative process, particularly on the technical challenges of the build and the material sourcing.Colin Leslie Source:Loader MonteithProject dataLocation Angus, ScotlandStart on site February 2022Completed June 2024Gross internal floor area 112 m2Architect Loader Monteith ArchitectsClient Colin and Angela LeslieStructural engineer McKinney NicolsonCAD software used AutoCAD, SketchUp